C+

Dover, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 64/100

Population: 25,756 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Dover, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 25,756 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (64/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $82,884, median home value of $234,900, median rent of $1,260 per month, and 22.1% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,335 per month (studio $925, 1BR $1,060, 3BR $1,796, 4BR $1,850).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Dover, PA include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 1.9% and poverty 6.2% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$82,884
Median household income
Education F
22.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B
2.8x
Home value $234,900 vs income
Commute D
28 min
Average commute time
Rent A-
$1,335/mo
2BR fair market rent (19% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$82,884
▲ 34% vs national
Per Capita Income
$41,475
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Poverty Rate
6.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
$234,900
▼ 15% vs national
Median Rent
$1,260/mo
Owner Occupied
89.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,335/mo
▲ 11% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$925
1BR
$1,060
2BR
$1,335
3BR
$1,796
4BR
$1,850

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
22.1%
▼ 8 ppt vs national
High School+
67.9%
Median Age
46.6
Avg. Commute
28 min
▲ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Dover, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (64/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 25,756. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Dover ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Dover, PA affordable?
Dover, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (64/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $82,884. Median home value is $234,900.
What is the cost of living in Dover?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,260/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,335/mo. Median home value $234,900.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →